New car market Aftersales conference News Showroom AM contacts Used car market News digest Recruitment By Maurice Glover Eyebrows were raised when Volkswagen entered the king- size sport utility sector. But a consistently strong combination of performance and value has won the Touareg a healthy 4% stake in the market. Now major restyling, greater convenience and a hybrid option are poised to further extend the reach of the chunky model. Backed by added refinement inside as well as under the bonnet, next- generation versions reveal yet another bid for higher market posi­tioning by the German company. The Touareg will have start- stop and regenera­tive braking technology as standard along with dual- zone climate control and tinted glass. Extensive options will provide dealers with major upselling opportunities. ?? ?? Price: £ 37,000-£ 56,000 ( approx) ?? ?? Rivals: BMW X5, Mercedes- Benz ML, Land Rover Discovery, Lexus RX Driven: Mitsubishi L200 Barbarian - on sale now By Tim Rose With this year's revised L200, Mitsubishi has replaced its top- spec Animal variant with a new Barbarian derivative. For lovers of chrome- clad pick- ups it delivers a seriously attractive package. Standard kit includes climate control, sat- nav, Bluetooth, iPod connection, and 17in alloys. Although the cabin still looks and feels utilitarian compared to a car, occupants get a very stylish set of leather seats to perch on. A standard reversing camera takes away the stress typically linked with reversing a large pick- up, and will particularly appeal to buyers needing to tow trailers. It still has its gutsy 2.5- litre turbodiesel and super- select 4WD at its heart. The L200 Barbarian now offers the five- speed automatic transmission from the Shogun for a £ 1,500 premium. Mitsubishi says this offers better fuel economy on motorways. However that premium makes the almost £ 27,000 on- the- road price look steep against its key rivals. ?? ?? Price: £ 26,935 ?? ?? Rivals: Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger First drive: Volkswagen Touareg - on sale August